The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is raising awareness about two recent frauds reported to the Hawkesbury OPP Detachment, where victims lost more than $380,000.

Combining romance and investment frauds

Fraudsters are increasingly combining romance and investment scams to deceive victims and steal their life savings. In these cases, victims are contacted through dating apps, social media platforms, or unsolicited text messages. The fraudster attempts to establish a relationship and gain the victim’s trust.

Once trust has been established, the fraudster claims to be a successful cryptocurrency investor and offers to help the victim make money or “get rich.” Victims are then persuaded to invest funds into fraudulent investment opportunities, often resulting in significant financial losses.

Bank investigator

Fraudsters use automated or direct phone calls, emails, and text messages claiming to represent a financial institution, law enforcement agency, credit reporting agency, or, in some cases, a well-known business. They advise victims that fraudulent transactions have been detected on their bank account or credit card.

There are several variations of this scam:

  • Fraudsters may request access to the victim’s computer or mobile device to assist with the supposed investigation. Victims are instructed to download remote-access software and log into their online banking accounts, giving the fraudster direct access. Victims are then shown what appears to be a fraudulent transaction and are told they must assist with an ongoing investigation by transferring funds to the “investigator” for safekeeping or evidentiary purposes.
  • Fraudsters may add themselves as a payee using a fraudulent email address and instruct victims to transfer a large sum of money to “protect” their account. Victims are falsely led to believe replacement funds have been deposited into their account when, in reality, the funds have been transferred from their own line of credit or savings account.
  • Fraudsters may tell victims they are required to provide their debit or credit cards, along with their PIN, to a courier as part of the investigation. To make the request appear legitimate, they may instruct victims to cut the card in half while ensuring the chip remains intact. In some cases, fraudsters may threaten victims with arrest if they do not comply.
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The public is encouraged to visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s Frauds A to Z Index at https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca to learn how to recognize warning signs and protect themselves from fraud.

If you suspect fraud or have been a victim of fraud, report it to your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre through the online Fraud Reporting System or by calling 1-888-495-8501.